Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): To be effective in our forest watch efforts and to inform the general public of Forest Service activities, the UEC has submitted Freedom of Information Act requests for specific information over the years.  This is public information, paid for by taxpayer dollars, that we request from the Forest Service in order to get a better idea of what they have been doing in terms of monitoring (wildlife, water, soils, etc.), enforcement (e.g. ATV's), and other activities. As we review the information we look for compliance with Forest Service regulations, individual Forest Plans, Recovery Plans for various species, and federal environmental laws. This information makes us better informed and is used in our comments, appeals, and litigation.

In addition, we regularly use the information to educate the public on various Forest Service projects and policies. The information is used in newsletter articles, action alerts that we mail or email to our members and the public, topics discussed on our monthly radio show, passed on to the press for use in articles or interviews, posted on the website, presented at our Annual Conference, used in public presentations and tabling events. etc. All of the information we receive under FOIA is used in the public interest and made available to the public.

We currently have wildlife monitoring data available from each of Utah's National Forests for the past 15 years. Unfortunately, there isn't much because the Forest Service in general has not been complying with the monitoring requirements in Forest Plans, or those mandated under the National Forest Management Act. And without the FOIA data, neither the UEC or the public, would have known the Forest Service was violating the law.

We have also FOIAed (or requested FOIA information) from the Forest Service on a variety of different Forest Service projects including timber sales, grazing allotments, motorized recreation, roads, etc. that the UEC, our members or the public have expressed interest in. Several of our members have come into our office and reviewed or made copies of information we received under FOIA that they were interested in.

For further information, please call the UEC at (801) 466-4055 or email us at uec@uec-utah.org.